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Grid2030 Program

Grid2030 is a multi-year collaborative innovation programme where Red Eléctrica de España and InnoEnergy together explore radically new socio-economic or technical innovations related to the operation of the electricity system and its associated transmission grid.

The aim is to anticipate the future challenges of the energy transition, identifying the needs of the TSOs and accelerating the development of disruptive technological solutions.

The programme is open to entrepreneurs from public and private entities, universities, research centres and companies from around the world, and has an annual allocation amounting to one million euros.

Presentation of finalist projects of challenges 1 and 2 and presentation of new challenges 3 and 4.

Workshops held in April and May about challenges 3 – 4.

WHO IS IT FOR?

Grid2030 projects focus on innovation development with the objective of demonstrating that technology (below or at TRL4- Technology Readdiness Level 4), basic products, services or processes can work in a (future) business set up.

Who is it for Grid2030 program

Researchers

Startups

Corporates

Build a commercialization strategy for your technology.

Find the right partners to bring value to your idea and convert it to reality.

Work with public and private leaders in the power sector.

Accelerate your go to market strategy.

Find the right partners to bring value to your idea and convert it to reality.

Receive extensive public exposure to your business.

Work with public and private leaders in the power sector.

Co-develop solutions with researchers and startups.

Strengthen you leadership by sourcing new technologies and business opportunities.

Connect with other public and private leaders.

Why come on board?

Professional support in innovation management

Financing

Access Red Eléctrica and Innoenergy network of experts and partners

Engage your teams in a one of a kind innovation program

Gain extensive public exposure

Work hand in hand with your ecosystem

ABOUT INNOENERGY

InnoEnergy is the Innovation engine for sustainable energy across Europe. We support and invest in innovation at every stage of the journey – from classroom to end-customer.

With our network of partners we build connections across Europe – together we accelerate the development of market-ready solutions, and create a fertile environment in which we can sell the innovative results of our work.

In a future society with a CO2 free energy system the TSO must ensure continuous energy supply and maintain current levels of reliability in an efficient way. Among the many technical challenges to support this mission, Grid2030 will focus on the following:

Edition 2018. Challenges 3 and 4. COMPLETED

Challenge 3: Improved knowledge of the physical state of the power transmission infrastructure.

The objective of this challenge is to improve the knowledge of the physical state and real-time dynamic behaviour of the existing assets of the power transmission network.

For a Transmission System Operator (TSO), having a detailed knowledge of the physical state and real-time dynamic behaviour of its power transmission network is increasingly important in order to keep up with the rising requirements of the energy transition (large shares of renewable energy sources, electrification of the economy, active demand, new players in the power system, etc.).

Proposals for this challenge should aim at increasing the volume and value of systematic real-time and non-real time collection of relevant data about the physical state and condition of the transmission network. In scope of this challenge are among others solutions building on Internet of Things (IoT) to support decision making on asset maintenance, power system operation, monitoring, control and the introduction of greater automation.

Example areas of proposal might include (the list is non-exhaustive):

Development of new sensors and tools to measure relevant parameters of the infrastructure, taking into account (i) their needs for power supply in autonomous conditions (energy harvesting), (ii) the constraints imposed by their large-scale installation and deployment in the existing infrastructure considering live-line working, and (iii) the safe transmission of the measured data.

Development of new algorithms to estimate non-measurable relevant parameters on the basis of collected data (e.g., conductor sag).

Advanced design of SDN (Software Defined Networks) for the communication network in order to facilitate its management and security.

Challenge 4: Digital technologies and services for the energy transition

The objective of this challenge is to identify new services and solutions for the TSO, based on emerging digital technologies that help facilitate the transition to an upcoming energy model that is cleaner, more decentralized, highly efficient, and at least as reliable as the present-day energy system.

The future of power systems is likely to be characterized by large shares of renewable generation, a highly electrified society and economy (with electric mobility playing a major role in that electrification), more decentralized resources, entirely new players, empowered end-users and a high level of power market integration. In this exciting context, Transmission System Operators (TSOs) need innovative ideas to keep the power system safe, reliable and up to the required quality standards.

Proposals for this challenge should aim at developing digital solutions which enable TSOs to play a leader role in the energy transition through their impact both on the power system and the society, while guaranteeing the continuity of supply.

Example areas of proposal might include (the list is non-exhaustive):

The integration and use of emerging digital technologies to increase the efficiency of TSO services in the context of the energy transition.

The integration and use of emerging digital technologies to create new services or solutions that TSOs can provide to foster the energy transition.

The development of digital platforms to enhance the TSOs capabilities to ensure the security and quality of supply through monitoring and control of wider groups of system users, possibly via untapped B2B and B2C channels.

Edition 2017. Challenges 1 and 2. COMPLETED

Challenge 1: To accelerate the widespread deployment of power electronics in the system.

To accelerate the widespread deployment of power electronics in the system. Removing existing barriers to mass deployment of power electronics in the power grid of the future by reducing costs associated with these facilities or improving performance. This requires developing new configurations and optimized designs, new materials and advance control methodologies and interoperability, among other changes that could cause a disruptive change to the current state of technology.

System development based on power electronics solutions enables more reliable power management. Several features justify its deployment: It is adaptable to a wide range of applications because of its fast transient response capability, such as voltage and frequency instability problems; it is also a key technology for renewable generation, storage and facilitation of the active customer approach. Power electronics devices should be completely flexible and modular and allow for a compact and smart replacement of traditional solutions, thus implying low distortion in the network.
Among other developments that could cause a disruptive change to the current state of technology, are:

Development of new configurations, converter topologies and optimized designs with flexibility, robustness, compactness and modular features.

Improvements on material (such as SiC and GaN) performances, in terms of: higher power ratings (so that they can be widely adopted for electric power applications); higher thermal conductivity (allowing high temperature operation with reduced cooling requirements); high saturation current velocity, giving high current density; higher breakdown electric field (increasing maximum blocking voltage of devices); and electron mobility (giving lower specific resistance for a given blocking voltage).

Advance in control strategies, methodologies and interoperable capabilities with open communication architecture. Permitting an economic and technical optimization of local and global control levels regarding the application, facilitating high control and stability of the system as well as fast and high quality response;

Explore how power electronics with advanced cable technologies can become an attractive alternative in future.

There are particular situations of special relevance for the application of power electronic solutions which an applicant may consider:

Scenarios with a high penetration of wind power generation with high variability in short periods,

Power flow modification,

Isolated electrical systems,

Voltage control support.

Challenge 2: To develop new resources for system flexibility compatible with a carbon free energy system.

To develop new resources for system flexibility compatible with a carbon free energy system. Promoting advances in controllability of renewable generation, new or improved storage systems and components driving to significant cost reduction for the energy system as a whole. These improvements could come from the use of different materials, advances in production processes, design of new solutions or technologies, etc.

Flexibility is the amount of electrical power that can be modulated, based on the needs of the system within a specific unit of time. This refers mainly to high-speed generation response and load resources, as well as storage devices (that can play both roles according to system needs). Nevertheless, the grid could become a source of flexibility itself with technologies that have similar effects as the aforementioned to cope with system constraints (examples are DLR systems and active devices). However, in order to garner as much benefit as possible from these resources, it is necessary that the flexibility is managed and performs properly under all circumstances.

Specific topics on this challenge could be (but are not limited to) the following:

Developing and testing of new storage technologies and/or hybrid solutions that could provide a full range of system services.

Upgrade the performance of RES generators in order to provide system services and to overcome technical limits to their maximum penetration (voltage regulation/support; short circuit current, synthetic inertia, black start, …).li>

New schemes to integrate demand side management as system service providers.

Enhanced management capabilities and observability of EVs and other flexible loads.

Tools and algorithms in order to monitor real time system flexibility.

New components or techniques focused on better seizing the existing capabilities of the grid and increasing its operational limits.

Call for application

Participants apply to as many challenges as they wish while the call is open.

Grid2030 team supports applications, answers questions and provides feedback to help participants draft the best applications.

Orchestration stage

The proposals with highest quality are invited to participate in the Orchestration stage. Here, several complementary applicants are matched together and receive support to commonly compose a proposal for a Grid2030 project. The main goal of the orchestration stage is to align the parties towards composing a proposal for maximum impact via integrated activities.

To challenge and improve their proposal in a highly professional environment in order to increase their chances for success.

To have an early access to the required ecosystem to successfully materialize their concept (whole value chain, first or exploratory customer, experts, network, etc.).

Project execution stage

The best project proposals coming from the Orchestration stage are selected for execution and funding based on:

The project description, plan and budget.

The alignment of the proposal to the topic of the call.

Featuring a collaborative approach, ideally involving the value chain and the adoption chain for the innovation. Special attention will be put on industry involvement.

A maximum project duration up to a maximun of 2 years. Effort is to be covered both by the Grid2030 funding and the applicants own resources.

An early commercial orientation and target towards disruptive business impact.

An adequate and motivated development team led by a skilled and empowered project manager.

Here you can find more information regarding the winning projects of the Grid2030 Program – First Edition, which are now in the execution phase.

Problem Description

The current energy transition to a coal-free economy is profoundly changing the infrastructure of the grid globally as well as the management of the energy paradigm. The penetration rate of renewable energies has already reached 30% of the total installed capacity in some countries, and the pace of implementation is expected to accelerate in the coming years (up to 70% in 2030 according to the latest scenarios raised by ENTSO-E). Among other changes, the grid is increasingly interconnected, requiring the management of bidirectional power flows in its nodes and requiring greater flexibility. This means that the network will demand new features from its components. However, conventional power transformers are not prepared to support the new requirements, because they do not have intrinsically capable abilities with respect to the active support of the system. Therefore, it is necessary to develop power electronics solutions that meet the needs exposed in the power grid in an effective way and with reduced cost.

The solution

The FST (Flexible Smart Transformer) project consists in the development of a new multipurpose device with additional advantages compared to very high voltage power converters.
First, it proposes a coupling through dielectric medium instead of a closed ferrite core at the stage of the high frequency transformer to reduce weight significantly, give intramodularity and scalability to the system, and perform in a simple way the Very high voltage insulation design.
Second, the use of SiC (silicon carbide) technology helps reduce the volume of the entire system. All these features help to drastically reduce maintenance and transportation costs.

Given the enormous possibilities offered by this new disruptive technology and to make the most of its benefits, the development of this project will focus on the potential practical application of a REAL case of the Transportation Electric Network, Bescano-Sentmenat 400 kV line, with the objective of mitigating the oscillations between areas paying special attention to the reactive power compensation and power flow control.

First, it will begin with a prototype phase applicable to only two modules to later reach the final objective through the serial-parallel association of individual modules until a UPFC (Unified Power Flow Controller) device with these characteristics is reached:

Rated voltage: 400 kV.

Power of transmission line: 2400 MW.

Reactive power of shunt shunt side: 150 MVAr.

Equivalent series impedance: 20 ohms capacitive at 1000 MW.

Impact for the TSO

REE, as TSO, is responsible for generating and maintaining the transmission system of the power grid. Because of this, their responsibilities include having sufficient capacity to respond to the country’s electricity demand. In addition to this, all TSOs are aware of the need to maintain network quality in the system. And they not only care about the network quality requirements of the devices connected to it, but also about making resources available to restore it to acceptable values for supply. FST devices will a tool with great added value to meet these goals.

Team

Problem Description

The rise of variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar power and the gradual decommissioning of conventional power plants driven by fossil fuels or nuclear energy result in the decline of the system inertia in power networks. The development of modern power networks leads to an increasing complexity in the power systems studies and more particularly to new challenges in power system stability analysis and control. The lack of inertia will make increasingly difficult to maintain a constant frequency in the system with damping of inter-area oscillations which will become more critical. The main challenge which will be addressed in the RITSE project is to contribute to increase the power system flexibility with the development of new stability resources and their associated integrated controls as new tools for the power system operators.

The solution

RITSE aims to enhance the electricity system’s transient stability and small signal stability via innovative controls to i) improve the behaviour of the HVDC-VSC link (DVAC), ii) for battery storage systems (BATTERTIA) and iii) for a correct coordination of both (DVAC + BATTERTIA).

DVAC consists of an innovative control to improve the behaviour of the HVDC-VSC links, thus contributing to the transient and small signal stability improvement of the connected AC power networks.

BATTERTIA proposes a development and experimental validation of a novel control system for distributed storage systems with batteries, offering an improved behaviour compared to the battery systems which are currently installed.

The two solutions are complementary as DVAC acts on the global scale while the BATTERTIA solution acts locally. Their coordination will yield in increased margins of the transient stability in the AC power system and will support future stability of the networks with high share of renewable energy and reduced system inertia.

Impact for the TSO

The combination of control strategies for distributed storage systems with batteries and for HVDC-VSC links is of prime interest for TSOs. In practice, the BATTERTIA solution allows the creation of strong zones within the power systems that respond predictably and in a conventional way to system perturbations. DVAC manage the interaction between those zones and guarantee any potential oscillations to evolve in a safe and predictable way. Both controls will be tuned in a coordinated way in order to increase the damping produced by each of them separately.

TSOs and DSOs will benefit from an integrated and coordinated solution for improving the transient stability of future power networks. Such solution will facilitate TSOs to address the possible interarea stability issues caused by imminent integration of European electricity markets, among other reasons.

Team

Here you can find more information regarding the winning project of the Grid2030 Program – Second Edition.

Problem Description

Transmission System Operators (TSOs) are in charge of delivering electricity in an efficient, resilient and safe manner. Renewable energies (wind and photovoltaic) have a rising role in the electrical systems and are going to become an important element to control. These new generation units are not based on conventional generation technologies and due to their uncertainty and its different technology, it is necessary to define an optimum performance. Transmission System Operators (TSOs) need innovative ideas to keep the power system safe, reliable and up to the required quality standards.

The solution

Scientific and technological progress has improved the functionalities that renewable generation units can provide to support the grid. TSOs must be aware and take advantage of the new capabilities that these new technologies can achieve and use them for the electric power system to operate optimally. We’ll develop a tool that will help REE define how these new agents such as solar generation, wind plants or mass storage elements will behave, to optimize the frequency response of the system. New energy resources based on power electronics offer the possibility of a wide range of behaviours.​

Impact for the TSO

It is expected for ENIGMA to be a strategic tool for REE, , helping to envision and define the future grid in diverse business areas: Planning Department, Demand management, Control System, etc. ENIGMA addresses future challenges in several aspects:​

Define the minimum technical requirements for PV and WTG.​

Suggest control functions to be included within new versions of Grid Codes, or services.

Simulate future scenarios and predict the impact on grid stability.​

Define optimum parameters for control functions of elements connected to the grid.

The second edition of the Grid2030 program closed last June with nine project proposals. The projects presented offered solutions to the two challenges of this edition: improved knowledge of the physical state of the power transmission infrastructures (challenge 3) and digital technologies and services for the energy...

The Grid2030 Program aims to promote the development of technological applications to the operation of the electricity system and the transmission grid, capable of accelerating the energy transition. It is a program open to innovators from public and private...

The main objective of the workshop was to bring together the program organizers (Red Eléctrica de España and InnoEnergy) and the 27 selected applications to offer them a ground for interaction to facilitate dialogue and idea exchange among all participants. Thanks to the presence and active contribution of 15 cross-...

More than 80 European entities have applied to the Grid2030 Program with proposals covering the two challenges on power electronics (19 applications) and power system flexibility (60 applications evaluated). The bulk of applications comes from an equilibrated mix of top-notch R&D centres, prestigious universities and influential companies and non-profit,...

The call for applications will be open from November 23th 2017 to February 8th 2018. In this site you can find all the relevant information about the program, conditions to participate and how to register.

We are looking for motivated participants and innovative ideas with early...